Switch and signal mechanism for railways



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0. STEWART.

SWITCH AND SIGNAL-MECHANISM FOR .RAI'LWAYS.

Patented Jam-30, 1 883.

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(No Model.)

0. STEWART. SWITCH AND SIGNAL MECHANISM FOR'RAILWAYSHY No. 271,534. PatentedJamSO, 1883.

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@NlTED ST TES PATENT @rrrcn.

CHARLES STEWART, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

SWITCH AND SIGNAL-MECHANISM FOR RAILWAYSL SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,534, dated January Application filed October 14, 1882. (No model.)

ism for Railways, of which the iollowiug is a.

specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in that class of railroad switches or signals which areoperated from adistance through the medium of levers and connecting wires,

ropes, or chains, the object of my invention be-.

ing to prevent the derangement of any part of the apparatus, due to the expansion or con-' traction of the medium connecting the switch or signal and the operating-lever.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a perspective view of a section of railroad-track, showing a signal and my improvedoperating mechanism therefor; Fig. 2, a front view, on a larger scale, of the operating lever and its stand; Fig. 3, the samewith the parts in a different position; Fig. 4, arear view of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a perspective view of the operating-lever; Fig. 6, Sheet 2, a. plan view of combined switch and signal mechanism with my improvements, and Fig. 7 a side view of the same.

Referring to Sheet 1 of the drawings, A is the signal-post, to which, near the top, is hung a semaphore-lever, B, the short arm of which is connected by a rod, a, to the short arm of a weighted lever, D, near the foot of the post. To the short arm of said lever D is also connected one end 0fawire,F, which passes round a pulley, b, and through a tube, d, the opposite end of the wire being connected toa chain, f, which passes round a pulley, g, and is attached to a weight, It, contained in a pit, k. The pulley g is hung to astand, G, which serves as a guide for a lever, H, the fulcrum-pin m of which is hung by links a to the spindle of the pulley g. The pin m projects through a segmental slot in the stand G, and is connected to a spring, 12, which tends to draw the lever in the direction of the arrow 1, Fig. 2.

The long arm of theleverhasapawht, which is adapted to engage with ratchet-teeth w on the stand Gr. When the lever B; is in the position shown in Fig. 2 the long arms of the semaphore-lever B and weighted lever D are depressed, the weighton the lever D, in connection with the weightof the lever B, being sufficient to raise the weight h. The power of the weight It is constantly exerted to keep the connecting-wire F under tension or strain, so that any movement imparted thereto by the lever will be transmitted to the signal, there being no slack to be taken up before the signal is operated. By this meanslovercome'an objectinn'to signals in which the connectingwire is attached at one end to the signal and at the other end to the operating-lever, for in such a case the expansion or contraction of the wire is liable to cause derangement of the signal, excessive contraction tending to break the wire, and undue expansion causing slackness, so that the throw of the lever is no sufficient to. fully'raise the signal.

In my improved apparatus the lever His free from connection with the operating-Wire except when actually moving the same or holding it in the position to which ithas been moved. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, the short arm of the lever is free from contact with the chainf, and the latter is free to move over the pulley g as the wire expands or contracts. The

first efl'ect of the movement of the leverH in the direction of the arrow 2, Fig. 2, however, is to cause it to turn on its fulcrum-pin m and bring its short arm into engagement with the ch ainf, the niovementof the lever being then transmitted to the links wand chainf, so asto raise the signal-lever B and weighted lever D, as shown in Fig. 1, the parts being retained in the position shown by the engagement of the pawl t with the ratchet-teeth w on the stand G. As soon as the pawl is freed from the teeth the lever is restored by the springp to the position shown in Fig.2, and the signal-lever is permitted to drop.

I am aware that it is not new to use in connection with a switch or signal operating wire means for keeping the wire under tension and an operating-lever adapted to grip and release the wire, and this, therefore, I do not broadly claim, this part of my invention being devoted to the means for gripping and releasingthe wlre.

I am also aware that it is old to connect a signal-operating chain to a pulley or segment on the actuating-lever; but it is essential to my invention that the cord or chain should not be connected to the pulley, as there are times when it must be free to move independently thereof.

The use of the weighted lever D is not essential to my invention, as the lever B may be made heavy enough to counterbalance the weight h, in which case the wire F may be connected directly to thelever,and in some cases the chain f may be dispensed with, the wire F passing round the pulley g, and being connected to the weight, and the lever H being so constructed as to grip and release the wire as desired; or, in place of the wire, a rope, chain, or cord may be used as the medium of connecting the signals and operating-levers, as I consider such rope, chain, or cord to be the equivalent of the wire.

My invention may be used for operating switches or for actuating lantern or pivot signals, as well as lor semaphore-arms, the essential feature of the invention remaining the same in all cases. In Figs. 6 and '7, Sheet 2, for instance, 1 have shown my invention applied to a combined switch and signal device. The switch-rails K K are operated by a lever, L, as usual; but on the spindle ot' the lever is a pulley, M, around which passes a chain, m, which forms a flexible section of wires F, the opposite ends of which are connected to chains f, and the latter pass in opposite directions around pulleys g, thependent end ofeach chain being furnished with a weight, h. These weights thus serve to keep the wire under constant tension, and the operation of the wire is effected by a lever, H, which acts upon one of the chainsfin the manner heretofore described. By this means the switch can be set either by the lever L, or from a distance by the lever H, through the medium of the connecting-wire. Thesignal-operating wire F has also a chainsection, m, which passes around pulleys N and P, and where it passes around the pulley P the chain is adapted to be acted upon by a lever, B, hung to the spindle of the pulley and connected to a crank-pin on the pulley M. When the switch is set in the safety position the lever H is free from contact with the wire :0, where it passes around the pulley P, and the signal can be operated by the signal-lever without affecting the switch; but the switch cannot be changed without affecting the signal, as the first result of an attempt to change the switch is to clutch the lever H to the chain a: and impart movement to the signal-operating wire F.

1 claim as my invention- 1. The combination ,of the switch or signal. the pulley g, the weighth, the wire F, connected to the weight, and having a flexible portion passing round the pulley, but not connected thereto, and the lever H, adapted to act upon the portion of the wire which passes round the pulley, as set forth.

2. The combination of the wire F, pulley g, chain f, weight h, lever B, and links n, as set forth.

3. The combination of the switch-operating mechanism, the signal, the signal-operating lever, the wire F, having a flexible section passing around a pulley, P, and a clutching and releasing lever connected to the switchoperating mechanism and adapted to act upon the portion of the wire passing around the pulley P, as set forth.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. STFHVART.

Witnesses HARRY DRURY, .HUBERT HowsoN. 

